A Certain Unknown Level 0

by MrQuestionMark

Accelerator and the Railgun. Two level 5's that have been subjected to the same rumour: they have been defeated by a Level 0. But who is this mysterious esper? These are the numerous investigations made by characters in the ToAru universe into this Level 0. People who don't know him will learn the truth and those who do know him will catch a glimpse into his life. Will have action.

164. Shutaura Sequenzia: Part 6

And here we are once more with another chapter.

I hope the wait was not long! In a way, there is going to be a massive spoiler for those who read the arc in one go later on but why that is the case is something you guys reading chapter by chapter will have to wait to see! I only hope that as you keep on reading that I can keep on grabbing you with what I pen down.

Whatever the case, we'll start first by doing the Q & A:

GG Vegito: I hope all the arcs coming up surprise you in some way and not just the ones you're looking forward to!

whwsms: Thanks so much for your kind words and support!

craytherlay: In my defence, the cliffhangers sort of just happen. There comes a point where I'm writing a chapter where I know it's the perfect place to stop and that sometimes end up being the cliffhanger. Oh boy, I don't even want to think about a Hayashida Kamui – that would be terrifying given her ability to plan everything out. I hope that you can enjoy whatever I have planned for Hayashida in the end.

Kamijou Touma1: If I don't make this a thing, then I'm going to riot against my own fic!

LoneVirgo98: Let's see what happens between Touma and Hayashida Mari, shall we?

TheDarkPublisher: Hey, thanks so much for reading! It's the fact that you're reading that really makes my day so don't think your support doesn't mean anything. I hope you also look forward to some exploration of Touma's PTSD for others if they ever figure it out. But let's see how many more victims are going to suffer from the Kami-yan Disease before the fic is over, shall we? I'm also glad that you noticed that Kamui is like the 'archrival' to Touma – there are a lot of parallels between them that I'm glad you're seeing! You're also very observant – part of this fic is really showing Touma (and others) going on a journey of self discovery and also discovering how they can change as the world around them changes. Many characters in this fic are not naïve anymore and I really wanted to show that in how they acted and change. Still, as Touma's legend continues to evolve, I hope you can enjoy what comes next with it!

onilink500: Jajajaja; ¡Esperemos que no todos tengan los ojos muertos en ese momento! En cuanto al bebé; Dejaré ese misterio allí hasta que sea el momento de resolverlo.

ShadowBloodedge9396: Oh God, don't even get me started with the length of the Uiharu arc… Still, I think arcs will be getting longer and longer, but even I doubt we'll ever reach the stage of reaching the length of the Uiharu arc. As for whether Othinus has figured out Touma has PTSD; I don't think she has at this point given that she would be the first one to try and deny that Touma has something so major – it would only hammer home the fact that she has truly hurt him which isn't something I think she wants to admit.

RUiN The Extinct: Man, I think it's the other way around! I take notes from Kamachi all the time!

WwEpsilonwW: Hahahaha, thanks so much for the kind words! You have to remember that my interpretation of the Touma and Othinus connection is just my own though but I'm glad that I've given you some ideas. But thanks so much for commenting that Touma's PTSD was realistic; it's something that I've really been trying to aim for this entire fic. How long did it take in this fic before Misaki finally got her moment? But after reading your latest chapter, it does feel as though you've added in the character you wanted to see after so long! I hope that you can look forward to whatever comes your way when it concerns Shutaura. …Would I sacrifice someone? I have no idea if I would – I played everyone when I 'killed' Faith after all! …Good God, imagine if Touma could just make babies disappear; Raildex would become a horror story! But I hope you are staying safe as well.

Mr. Kino-san: thanks so much for your kind words! This story does sort of feel like a web novel of sorts when you considered the length of it and the regularity of updates… As far as I know, there was an open world Index game released a while back on mobile but I'm unsure whether it's even being updated anymore. In terms of mobile stuff for Index though, the best you're going to see is Imaginary Fest which seems like it's going to be around for a pretty long time! but I agree; having open world Index would be amazing. If Touma would ever be involved in the Fate universe (and this is just my own understanding of it), I definitely think he would be considered as a dangerous element given his ability to cancel out all magic. However, in terms of how he would react to magicians in that world, it really depends on what he sees and is exposed to – I can definitely see him rising up against those with 'unfavourable' practices but at the same time, more accepting of the lesser ones. In the end though, Touma in the fate universe is an interesting concept that feels fun to have a stab at!

Intrigued Shikikan: Early chapters sort of have that effect on people I've found.

HazelWasTaken: Thanks so much for your kind words – they are greatly appreciated! And thanks also for pointing out the different sides that are shown for the villains; I really aimed to capture different ways of seeing things with my characters so I'm happy it was the case for you. I do have to say though; early chapters put Touma through a LOT (not that later chapters didn't…). But thanks for noting that reading the chapter is like watching an anime – I always try and aim for that flow when writing. I'm also happy that you felt I captured Accelerator in a good way: I don't mean to play favourites but I always worry about how I show the growth of other characters and not just Touma but hearing your comments make me glad on the progress I have made. Who is this series isn't punched in the face?! I can't believe that you like Stiyl of all characters – there's nothing wrong with it but it's definitely different from what I've otherwise heard. Does Touma have limiters though?! In terms of Index getting another Walking Church, I don't think it would be that hard given that it's just a spell applied to some clothing – the issue then becomes whether it would last being handled by Touma.

Bestest: There's nothing wrong with M choices, LOL! When will life ever not be a chore – I think that is the better question. I'm glad you liked it and I especially like the reference to Metal Gear!

Akin2018: Thanks so much! I can confirm though that the General of MINUS has not had his mind overwritten by Kamui.

Name on list: Yes?

KingJGamer: Hahahaha, thanks so much for your kind words! One of the 'effects' I was going for when I came to that chapter in the Uiharu arc was to give the sense of 'what would an unstable Mikoto look like'? While this is only 'one' answer I reached, I am glad that it unsettled you. I think though, if Mikoto completely went nuts and decided to forgo her humanity then she'd likely match the #2, although probably not Accelerator given his power.

comrade-elmo1: Yeah, there is a lot of suffering in this fic, isn't there? But I personally really liked writing the Thor arc given how 'out there' Thor's character can be. Personally, you can sort of see my bias as to who 'best boy' is for me given the focus... Hahahahaha, you getting Fate PTSD makes me laugh in a way, especially since Uiharu really was the 'Shirou' to Touma's 'Kiritsugu' for her arc in places, which was entirely intentional. But I'm also glad that you really enjoyed Mikoto's thoughts on what Touma means to her and the in depth conversation she had with Uiharu on the issue! Aogami sometimes has some gems to offer, doesn't he? One of these days, I'm going to have to actually think about what music might fit each scene the best - I just haven't done it. I hope you can look forward to what I have planned with Kamui though... And I'm glad that you also found Otohime to be amazing; she's one of those underused characters in the canon that I really wanted to flesh out in my own way so I'm happy that those efforts turned out well. To be honest, I was always on the fence with the nanomachine side of things so having it so well received is a real good thing for me! As for Orion and Touma, I'm not going to say what's going to happen between the two of them except that there are a lot of people who can be considered 'opposites' for Touma in this series...where you take that though is up to you. But yeah, I sort of love how Orion is a punching bag as well; he kind of deserves it though. But to think that you actually made it to the end - I really want to thank you so much for managing to read this monstrous fic and reaching the end; you have my endless thanks and I hope you can fully enjoy what comes next!

randomuser123: I sort of think this as well in a way - most of the Uiharu arc is a reaction fic to Touma and what he gets up to isn't it?!

Matias Quinteros: Hey, thanks so much for your comments and for providing them. I don't think that they're disrespectful, you're just giving your honest thoughts and I respect that. I do have to admit that later chapters suffer from repeating the things from previous chapters, but that mainly has to do with the fact that there's a MASSIVE time in between posting and I don't expect readers to retain everything that I write; hence the repeating (but even then, I acknowledge that it's a bit stale). I will have to say though that all the things you've noted are definitely elements I'm working on and not things that are there to stay, if it's any consolation. But thank you so much for everything that you wrote; I'm definitely taking it to heart!

And finally, the thanks. As always, to my betareader PokeRescue18. He's been MIA recently but for the work that he's done for me over the past few years, I still want to thank him endlessly for his efforts in his review. I think it has been pretty obvious what the length of the chapters are and yet, he always manages to keep up with me and does great work. For what you have done for me over the years, I really want to thank you for everything. I hope you guys give your thanks for him in your mind as well as you read.

And to you, the reader. You guys matter so much to me as well and I doubt things would have come this far (is that a good thing or bad thing?) without you. For this alone, for your support and for everything you guys have managed to give me over this journey that has gone on for almost a decade (can you believe this?!), I really want to give you my endless thanks. Seriously, from the bottom of my heart, thank you.

And GT4. I have a lot to say, as usual, and my thoughts on the volume were a bag of good and bad, but I still really enjoyed it all the same. As usual, my thoughts are at the end of the chapter, but even though there were some good bits and bad bits, I still enjoyed what I was given!

Let's get into the chapter before I start my usual ramble, shall we? As we get into the chapter though, I hope you do one thing:

Enjoy.

Mr Question Mark.

---

"I get everything you've told me. I really do. But what does that have to do with leaving this mess in my room!?"

"Did you even listen to a thing we said?! We explained everything and while you've sat there and listened, have you really taken in and absorbed nothing?"

"Nothing!? Shut the hell up, the one thing I've 'absorbed' is that you've given me a bunch of bloody washing! And I mean that as both an emphasis and an adjective of the washing I have to do! Do you know how hard it is to get blood out of white!?"

"N-No, but – "

"No buts! I demand new sheets. You all are going to give me new sheets! And a new futon! You think you can come in here no matter what happens to you and the chaos involving bombings, spray my entire room with blood and think you can just waltz out of here after explaining everything to me like you're giving a report? This looks like the set for some Quentin Tarantino film! I know the injuries and the extent of them but where are the film cameras?! Look at my futon, sheets and my floor, damn it!"

Kamijou Touma yelled out those words at the sudden intruders to his home. Given that one of them had knocked him out and the others had gassed his friends, his hostility was clear. In fact, it was more surprising he had lasted this long withholding his emotions, having listened to the explanation of what had happened to the people in front of him and why his room was a bloody mess (both meant as an emphasis and literally).

The others in the room, even the ones who knew Kamijou, stared at him in surprise before one of the men who had been standing around and explaining things to Kamijou sharply responded with annoyance in his tone.

"Did you even listen to a thing we said?!"

"Yes! But the immediate problem, given that all of you are physically fine, is still the problem of my formerly white sheets! What are you going to do about that!?"

"Captain, how exactly do you know this idiot?"

The man who had spoken, Crow 7, turned to his Captain but once more found the girl was silent, refusing to meet Kamijou's gaze or that of another girl in the room; Index.

Shutaura Sequenzia had managed to do up the top half of her skin-tight uniform after they had released Kamijou and the others from their 'prison'. Immediately, the Black Crows had started by saying they needed to give Kamijou and the others an explanation and it was only that promise which had prevented any rash action on the part of everyone else.

But despite being the one who knew the people in front of her, Shutaura had left any and all explanations at the hands of her subordinates, her heart a mess of confusion now she realised where she was.

Her heart raced, but Shutaura could tell this was both because of fear and excitement at having finally reunited with Kamijou and also Index after the incident with the Endymion. But in that mess of emotions, Shutaura had a hard time deciding which were hers and which were Meigo Arisa's, the girl who had fused with her. While Shutaura had only met and interacted with Kamijou, Arisa had met both of these people and it was no exaggeration to say they had become the closest of friends Arisa had ever known.

But after she had fused, Shutaura and even Arisa in the few moments she had managed to take control of Shutaura, had not met them. The mere thought of reuniting with her precious friends who had given that idol so much had been a blissful one but given that 'Arisa' was now a part of 'Shutaura', any idea of meeting the two of them had brought about waves of uncertainty and fear.

Again, which of those belonged to Shutaura and which of those belonged to Arisa, Shutaura did not know. But the mess of joy at having reunited with the people who had given Arisa so much and also the fear in how they would react to who 'Arisa' was now was giving Shutaura a mess of conflicting feelings, ones she was struggling to sort out. As such, the entire time things were being explained, she had sat in silence, refusing to meet the gazes of anyone in the room, whether they be the occupants or the members of the Black Crows.

Who was to know this room belonged to Kamijou Touma?

Parts of the room, now Shutaura thought about it, did seem familiar to her even though she had never been here. The memories and the familiarity here clearly belonged to Arisa, those emotions leaking into her. Also, the safety and the sense of security were emotions and feelings that came from that idol too.

It was here that Meigo Arisa had felt protected beyond anything else. When Shutaura had gotten drunk, Arisa had even gone so far as to take over her and tell the Black Crows that she felt this location was the safest in the entirety of Academy City. The weight Arisa placed on this location alone because of the people who lived here was a strong one and even now, the feelings Arisa associated with this room Shutaura could not so naively pass off.

But despite that feeling of safety this room gave off, Shutaura also knew that caution had to be given.

There was currently only one person in the world who knew Shutaura was both Shutaura Sequenzia and Meigo Arisa.

And that was the boy making a racket right in front of her.

Cautiously, not knowing what exactly Kamijou was going to say about her existence and how it was going to be received, she glanced at the boy in the corner of her eye to try and get a read off him and determine if he was going to say anything or was trying to send her a signal through his actions.

But, despite listening attentively as he had been told what had happened to the Black Crows, the one thing he seemed to be bothered with now was the state of his room. Which was a bloody mess (again, both used as an emphasis and describing the mess made). Although he had made glances at Shutaura whenever she was mentioned and looked at her chest where she had shot but had now covered up, there had been nothing suggesting he was going to suddenly blurt out the nature of her condition as an existence.

Shutaura knew she had to thank Kamijou later for his discretion...but at the same time, the knowledge within her head told her one thing despite 'Shutaura' not having known Kamijou for long, or at all.

That's just like Touma-kun; always willing to keep a secret even if his life crumbles around him.

Shutaura had never met Kamijou enough to make that type of assessment. Nor did she ever think they were close enough for her to call him 'Touma-kun'. As a result, the only thing she could assess was that the thoughts, confidence and thanks to Kamijou she wanted to give were emotions and things provided by Arisa within her mind. That was the only explanation Shutaura had for her actions which were so unlike her.

…But if the things Arisa was feeling were leaking into what Shutaura was feeling now, then that also explained one more thing.

Whenever she glanced at that boy out of the corner of her eye, the way her heart raced, the desire to hold that gaze for a single second longer, the safety she felt even in his presence and the want for him to look at her and just say her name…those were things Shutaura had never felt for Kamijou whatsoever. Nor did she think she would ever feel them for a stranger.

Which meant the things, the small things she felt pulse through her heart whenever she looked at Kamijou, came from Meigo Arisa.

Shutaura herself had never felt this way about someone else before so being a stranger to these emotions only made her uncomfortable. And the confusion within her mind was only added to given it was not 'her' feeling these things but rather, Arisa within. Unsure of what the things Arisa was feeling for Kamijou were, Shutaura turned and faced Crow 7, responding to the question asked.

"We…met during the Endymion incident. You could say he left an impression on me."

"…Enough for you to suggest this was the safest place in Academy City?"

Shutaura winced at the logical conclusion given by Crow 7, his voice teeming with scepticism. She didn't blame him: although Shutaura had opened up a bit more to the Black Crows, she still had the mentality of a soldier. Placing the label of 'safest place' was not something any soldier did lightly and yet, here she was (even though it was Arisa), placing it on some student dorm and on some strange boy.

Shutaura found herself at a loss for words; her previous silence adding to the pressure from the rest of the Black Crows as they stared between her and Kamijou, trying to determine the extent of their relationship. Kamijou though, noticing the discord between the group opened his mouth, however, was interrupted.

"Oh, this isn't surprising. Touma tends to get involved in various things with various people and the Endymion is no exception. Touma and I were one of the last people on it after the evacuation." Index butt in, staring at Shutaura with a rather intense gaze. Shutaura knew what was behind it: she and Shutaura had met when Kamijou, Index and Shutaura had fled the Endymion but the absence of Arisa in the escape had only resulted in numerous questions from Index which had not been answered. How exactly Shutaura and Index's friend, Arisa, were connected was clearly on her mind, but the save she gave Shutaura was one she was thankful for.

And again, the longing that came from Arisa within her heart for the chance to embrace that nun on the spot and hold her tight for the chance to experience her warmth was a sensation that seemed overpowering to the girl.

Whatever the case, the words from Index made everyone stare at Kamijou and Shutaura with wide eyes.

"You know this guy from the Endymion, Captain?"

"Wait, you were involved in the Endymion incident, Kamijou-san?" Another person butt in before Shutaura could answer, someone she knew on sight: Shokuhou Misaki, the #5 Level 5 of Academy City. She looked surprised before it turned into a frown, the girl putting a hand underneath her chin. "…No, somehow, given what happened, that is to be expected."

"Why is it that the reaction from the guys who don't know me is the right one!?"

"I know that name. Wasn't the Endymion that biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig space elevator, Onii-chan?"

"Anyway," Kamijou said, deferring the question from another girl who, like the others, was sitting on the same side of the room as Kamijou with their backs facing the window while everyone else was on the opposite side with Shutaura and Kamijou sitting at the heads of the table. "What exactly are we going to do about this?" With a vague wave, Kamijou indicated to the rest of his dorm room. "Not only is it a mess, but what's going to happen now you've given me all this work?"

The girl who was ignored pouted and held tight to her chest a calico cat and a shamelessly dressed doll who grunted in response, although Shutaura was sure that was her imagination.

"Nothing that is your concern," replied Crow 9. "You've already been involved much more than you should have. At this rate, we'll get Crow 14 and 22 to the hospital and figure things out from there. Your role, when you should have had none, is over. Captain?" Crow 9 asked Shutaura, the tone behind the question asking more for approval than anything else.

Shutaura shut her eyes, knowing Crow 9's words were indeed correct. Involving civilians in the affairs of the Black Crows was by no means a decision she could get behind no matter the circumstances. But even though that was the case, the emotions within her heart from Arisa told her so strongly that Kamijou was the safest place she could be. So much so that even she wavered. She caught a glance at the boy in front of her just once, before averting her gaze, feeling that small thumping of her heart when she looked at him.

No…

Today had been a multitude of mistakes brought about by her emotions. Even if this was from Arisa's mind, she knew nothing of the danger this battle could bring to Kamijou and the others. The rational thing to do, for Shutaura despite what Arisa was saying in that Kamijou could make a difference, was reached.

Bitterly, an emotion Shutaura was shocked to realise she was feeling, she realised she would have to leave Kamijou here. This was her fight, not Kamijou's, and there was no reason to bring him into something that had nothing to do with him. Doing this would keep him safe and they would once more part…even if the mere thought made Shutaura's heart swirl with confusing emotions and resistance.

But before she could fight past all that and state the obvious conclusion, she was beaten to the punch.

"No… I should have phrased that differently. What is going to happen for all of us now?"

"T-Touma?!"

Eyes went wide and Index cried as they all stared at the spiky haired boy who leaned forward with his fingers interlocked, his gaze serious and his tone as well. What he was saying was not a joke nor did he think it was one from the way he was speaking either. Silence came over the room for a single second before Crow 27 responded, shaking his head and coming forward.

"Kid…we appreciate the thought. We really do. But your role is over now. Like Crow 9 said, there was never a place for you in this conflict from the start. It was merely…an accident you were even brought into this in the first place." Crow 27 glanced at Shutaura. She clenched her fists tight, realising the only reason Kamijou was even having this conversation was because of her decision to know whose dorm room this was.

Meaning the only reason Kamijou was going to be exposed to danger at this point was because of her.

That simple fact ate away at her core, something about the idea of Kamijou being injured because of her making her sick to the stomach, a feeling beyond the idea of a simple civilian getting hurt. And a feeling that was surely coming from Arisa.

"Not an accident. Just misfortune." Kamijou said with a smile before his gaze turned serious once more and he tapped the table, not even looking at Index beside him who seemed on the verge of collapsing. "Besides, this isn't entirely unrelated to me in the first place."

"What?" Shutaura asked. Kamijou smiled slightly, something hidden within that smile Shutaura could only identify as a strong guilt, even if she did not know the source of it despite noting how strong it was.

"If this is about MINUS…then I can't leave this alone. Even if this is the remnant of it, they are still active. Meaning the mistakes I've made haven't been fixed. I'm getting involved in this fight, whether you like it or not. So we may as well cut me screwing you guys around and messing you up and get me involved right from the start."

"…Mistakes?" Shutaura asked, finding the emphasis on the word she could not ignore. Kamijou again smiled that guilt filled smile.

"MINUS and I aren't exactly strangers. Although I know next to nothing about Hayashida Mari and that boy with the shotgun who attacked you, I do know something about that girl, Faith as well as the mercenary who shot you; Orion Phoenix. Not only that but the girl with the spear and this 'Batya' character? I know them as well. Although I don't know anything about the small child with her, it's in your interests for me to be with you, if only for the information I can provide you. And before you ask," Kamijou said, looking at the soldiers behind Shutaura, "No. You won't find any of them in a database from Academy City."

The silence from the soldiers around Shutaura told of their hesitance to involve Kamijou but hearing the news that a vital package of information was so close to them without realising it only stunned them further. Shutaura turned, staring at her fellow soldiers for silent assistance.

They could not merely put a civilian in harm's way with this operation and what was happening with them.

But neither could they ignore an important source of information either.

The trade off between the safety of Kamijou and the gaining of the information he had was such that Shutaura did not know whether the decision she was going to make was one she could make by herself confidently.

"…Bullshit. I have no idea who you think you are kid, but playing the hero and entering this conflict just because it is 'cool' isn't the way things work here." Crow 14 spat that out bitterly, clearly remembering the defeat he had suffered at the hands of MINUS. "Besides, you say you have information for us. But the only thing you know is about the people who attacked us and not the group as a whole. And we already know a lot about them too. What we need to know right now is where they are hiding Crow 1 and that is it. Do you have that on you? Because, right now, that is the only piece of information we need."

"Well?" Shutaura asked, turning to Kamijou. The points made by Crow 14 were valid ones. The silence from Kamijou and his downcast gaze were the only things she needed to hear her answer.

"Well then, it seems as though the answer has been reached. …As noble as your intentions were, we cannot merely bring a civilian into our problems so readily. We already know what we need to know about the people who attacked us. But what you can give us is not what we need." Shutaura said those words plainly, starting to stand up from the table but finding the pain in her chest a bit too much to bear.

She winced slightly, Kamijou looking up almost instantly at the cry before practically crying out his objection.

"E-Even if that is the case, you still need as much help as you can get. Shutaura, you're in no state to fight!"

"…I tried to say it as clearly and kindly as possible, but it's clear you didn't get the message." Shutaura said in a low tone to avoid her thinking back on how she had so obviously showed weakness. Despite her heart (or at least, what Arisa was giving her) saying that involving Kamijou was both a good and bad thing for the things he could do but also the risk he posed, the negatives in Shutaura's mind won out in the end, especially given what she needed now which Kamijou did not have. "Stay out of our business. This is no place for civilians. What could you do anyway against guns and explosives?"

The words were spat out, Kamijou flinching for a single moment before turning his head down. There was nothing he could say that would otherwise persuade Shutaura and she knew it. He had nothing that would keep him in this conflict and without the proper leverage, there was no way he was going to be a part of the battle to come between the Black Crows and MINUS. Without anything the Black Crows could use, there was no reason to have him participate as he wanted, even if his intentions were noble.

There was silence for a moment, all heads on Kamijou who said nothing. Underneath the table though, something shifted; the fists of Kamijou being clenched tight. What he was going to do now Shutaura did not know but she knew that without any reason to involve him, he was surely going to be staying clear from the battle to come.

Even so though, his frustrations at being unable to stop the Black Crows from leaving were obvious. He would not be able to win in a proper one-on-one fight with any of the people inside this room: even the wounded Crows and Shutaura. If he even bothered to challenge them, how they would react was obvious and Kamijou knew it.

Without any reason to stay in this conflict, they would leave him and they would go their separate ways. Even if Kamijou wanted to have a role in this, there was no place for him, especially since he did not know where MINUS had taken Crow 1.

What exactly could he do? How exactly could the involvement of someone who did not even know how to use a gun affect things? Shutaura did not know but the frustration he was showing at being unable to do anything was odd to her. They had turned up at his doorstep without a word and were going to leave without one too and yet, when hearing their story, the idea he could do nothing frustrated him this much?

There was kindness there, such was evident to Shutaura and even the sensations and emotions brought about by Arisa told her that as well.

But there was also naivety.

Kamijou Touma was not suited for a conflict such as this. That much was obvious and despite his frustrations, he could do nothing, especially since he did not know where MINUS was.

Pain raced through Shutaura's chest at seeing how frustrated Kamijou was acting. It stung to see him in this way and despite realising this frustration came from Arisa, Shutaura knew she could not merely place reliance on the feelings on someone else on this matter. Even if Kamijou was frustrated now, he was safe and not involving him was the right thing to do.

But even so, Shutaura slowly reached out and placed a hand on Kamijou's shoulder.

"There's no shame in being unable to do anything for us this time around. It's just that you weren't suited to help."

Even she did not know why she was driven to say those words and provide comfort to Kamijou. Despite Shutaura knowing of Kamijou's insistence in getting involved in matters that did not involve him (both Arisa and Shutaura had seen this during the Endymion incident), there was no need for her to go this extra mile for someone who was essentially a stranger to her.

But she knew she could not leave this apartment in good conscious without saying something, anything, that would give Kamijou the chance to know this was not his fault and there was no need to rely on him for everything. That feeling within her was so strong that she could barely control herself, struggling to battle the emotions within her and determine what were hers and what were Meigo Arisa's.

The knowledge he could do nothing was Shutaura Sequenzia's.

But the desire to make sure he was not sad, the desire to ensure he could still face tomorrow was a smile despite his weakness, the desire to make sure he was safe despite everything was Meigo Arisa's. The raw and strong compassion for Kamijou belonged to someone else entirely different from Shutaura.

…Or was it?

Not even Shutaura could tell but she slowly stood up, some of the Crows reaching out for her all the same.

"We'll do something after this is all over for your dorm room. …And we apologise for everything that happened to you. We really do. But there is no place for you here."

Kamijou said nothing, keeping his head down and something within Shutaura screamed at her to do something about it. To have Kamijou look her way with a smile, to have him know everything was alright and that he was not to blame for his inability to help or anything like that. His pain felt like hers and it was with everything she had that she ignored the sensations racing within her, turning her back to Kamijou and slowly moving to the door and once more entering the night.

Each step she took, increasing the distance between her and Kamijou, felt like it was heavier and heavier, Shutaura gritting her teeth and closing her eyes despite the pain racing through her chest, both from the injury she had sustained and the emotional pain.

(Ignore it. This way, he does not get hurt. This way, there is nothing that can happen to him. He and I both know he is useless in this fight: he has no information we can use and can't do anything about the weaponry used in this fight. Involving him is suicide. So no matter how much this hurts you, Arisa, this is the right thing to do!)

No…wasn't the pain and concern for Kamijou also that of Shutaura's?

She did not know and one of the Crows reached the door, opening it and walking outside, Shutaura being supported and following as well, feeling the cold air against her face.

And yet –

"…If there was some way you could figure out the location ability with our help, then would you let us assist in this fight?"

She stopped, biting down on her teeth before turning and facing the person who spoke.

And Shokuhou Misaki, leaning against the bookshelf, stared at her retreating back with an intensity Shutaura did not think wise to overlook.

"What did you say?"

"You said Kamijou-san here could not be apart of this struggle because of his inability to fight and give you information. But, if one of those conditions could be solved, then doesn't that give you reason to involve him?"

Shokuhou smiled and everyone stared at her, even Kamijou who looked as though he had glimpsed a ray of hope…yet was also horrified at where the ray had come from in the first place.

"…Shokuhou?" Kamijou's voice was barely a whisper, Shokuhou looking at him with a gaze that held an unknown emotion and a smile to match. Within it, Shutaura could sense struggle but the reasoning behind it was unknown to Shutaura. Instead, the Level 5 turned and faced Shutaura with a level gaze of her own.

"Well?"

Kamijou seemed to not know the emotions and the struggle behind Shokuhou's expression either as she stared at Shutaura, demanding an answer. Even the other girls stared at Shokuhou with gazes that demanded to know what she was doing but the gaze held at Shutaura was the only one Shutaura felt mattered.

"Well, what?"

"If we can give you the location of those people who took your comrade, is not that reason enough to involve us?"

"…And how exactly do you intend to get this information? Because if you're merely giving us bait to involve you, we're not going to fall for it so easily."

"You took away my remotes. So that means you know exactly who I am." Shokuhou gave a saucy wink and her smile held a confidence that had not been there previously. "Wanting to find out the location of potential kidnappers? I can do that with my eyes closed."

The words in the air Shutaura could not deny and despite her better judgment, felt herself shifting to face Shokuhou. She leaned against the wall for support, ignoring the tightening on the grip holding her and spoke once more, her voice filled with pain after moving in such an awkward fashion.

"I'm listening."

"Oh, are you suddenly listening to what I have to say? That is a change in tune."

"Long Hair. …What are you doing?" Index's face was low, staring at the long haired girl with a look of shock but also intensity, as if staring at her was going to unveil the truth behind her actions. She said nothing though, holding her focused gaze on Shutaura.

But the seasoned soldier could not ignore the flinch Shokuhou had made when she had been addressed and the clenching of her fist when she had been asked that question.

"As Mental Out," began Shokuhou as she stared at Shutaura. "It's not only memories of people I can extract. It's also memories of objects. You said you were attacked at a facility you owned? Well then, what I have to do is fairly elementary. All I have to do is acquire the 'memories' of the facility in question: that will tell me exactly who went and came within that facility within a time period I specify. Following that trail and constantly seeking out the memories of the places these culprits have been, I will be able to pinpoint exactly where they were…and where they went. Even if they went to the other side of the planet, I would be able to tell you exactly where they went with pinpoint accuracy ability. Not a bad deal for you, no?"

There was silence, everyone staring at the girl. Kamijou looked as though he was unsure what to make of Shokuhou's actions and how exactly to interpret them, the same as everyone else. While she had been silent when Kamijou had declared his intention to be involved, she had continued that silence even when he had been rejected.

So why, when she was so close to having Kamijou not involved at all, did she choose to have herself, and by extension Kamijou, involved? Her previous silence seemed redundant now but like all Level 5s, what exactly was going on in her mind was unknown.

Shutaura stared at her, narrowing her eyes and looking at the others. The Level 5 held the cards they needed and was dangling it in front of their faces mockingly, something that made her boil on the inside. While she might have felt this was a joke or a way to please Kamijou, there was a person's life on the line. Crow 1 was not merely an accessory to Shokuhou's whims and Shutaura was not going to allow him to be.

"What's in it for you? You said nothing before suddenly coming up with this solution."

"I…have some conditions."

Shutaura narrowed her eyes. Shokuhou responded with one thing, raising her finger and pointing.

At Kamijou Touma.

"He comes. Kamijou-san comes with me."

"Long Hair, you - !"

Index was the only one to voice her surprise, standing up and staring at Shokuhou with a look of shock. Next to her, the small girl holding the calico looked just as surprised, her jaw dropping, the same being said for the doll in her arms. The Black Crows held the same expressions as well, not knowing how to respond.

Only Shutaura held Shokuhou's gaze. She had expected this. The only reason she did not show surprise was because of her own internal conflict with her emotions, battling between the frustration of having the deadweight Kamijou go along with her and the joy at having him come along, knowing exactly which emotion belonged to which part of her.

Kamijou himself looked just as surprised as everyone else. Shutaura could only stare at Shokuhou with displeasure.

"…You do realise this puts us at the exact same situation as before. He," Shutaura said with a nod of her head. "Has nothing to offer us. No information apart from knowledge of the personnel, which is not what we need. And even then, if this gets violent, what exactly can he do?"

"You'd be surprised."

"…That doesn't matter. What exactly is he going to be but a deadweight? I can't protect him. And neither can you if things get messy."

"…I realise that. No, I've already learned of my inability to do anything. But this time…he won't be heading into the dark without a flashlight."

Shutaura did not know what exactly she meant. A quick glance at the others made her register confusion in their expressions, suggesting they did not know either but with the prospect of figuring out where the bastards who took Crow 1 were right now, Shutaura glanced back at the Black Crows.

Their gazes held a multitude of opinions: some were eager to have Shokuhou do as she had said, but at the same time, others were reluctant given her condition to come along. They all stared at Shutaura, their leader, for the final choice and she looked back at Shokuhou.

This was her choice and what was going to happen from here on was going to be determined by her.

"…Can you do what you said? Find out where the people who took one of my comrades are?"

"Most certainly. As a Level 5, I can do that." Shokuhou's words held confidence and knowing the power of Level 5s, Shutaura did not doubt her for a single moment. But even so, the risks here were obvious, especially given it was the Black Crows who were going to have to babysit Shokuhou and Kamijou…and likely the others who would want to come along as well.

"…We aren't a babysitting service." Shutaura said with a sharp tone. "We can't protect you all the time. If something happens here, to any of you, we aren't going to be responsible. If you do this, if you decide to come with us and we get attacked, there is the very serious chance you will be killed. Are you prepared for that?"

Shokuhou opened her mouth, but the words seemed to fall short. She glanced to her side, Kamijou not even bothering to take the hint from her and saying the words he needed to without even a second of hesitation.

"I am."

"…Then I accept your condition. But you better pray you deliver."

She turned her back, leaning on the surprised Crow who had carried her there, and speaking once more.

"We'll need to sort out how things are going to go ahead on our side. As soon as we do that, we are leaving."

Shutaura Sequenzia walked out the door, realising that despite the looks given to her by some of the Crows that were satisfied with her decision, there were others who were not as pleased. The time deliberating what was to be done now was time Shutaura would also use to convince the others of the reasoning behind her decision to accept Shokuhou's words and her condition.

Crow 1's life was not as insignificant as Shokuhou Misaki clearly felt. To her and to the rest of the Black Crows, he was more than that; he was a part of the irreplaceable family gained through the comradeship being a part of the Black Crows was.

Simply for that chance to make up for her own mistakes in failing to prevent his capture, Shutaura knew she had to do whatever she could to ensure she saw him safe and sound again. She needed to do whatever she could to make him come home to his family once again. Anything that would give her the chance to do that, she would accept without delay.

So if Shokuhou Misaki could really get Crow 1 back safely, then there was going to be no hesitation in the decision Shutaura had to make, even if there were conditions attached to it and even if she was in no state to be doing anything.

Shutaura knew the other members of her family would understand that as they walked outside the dorm. For the chance to see Crow 1 once again, they would realise her decision was the right one…for the future of the Black Crows, to fix her mistakes as a leader and to ensure Crow 1 came back to them safe and sound.

But even so…

There was something else in the back of her mind that Shutaura was unsure whether it had a role to play in her decision or not. No, not something. Someone.

Was it possible her decision had also been influenced by Meigo Arisa's desire to once more have the boy who had meant so much to her come along with her once again?

Shutaura Sequenzia was not sure.

But she could not ignore that, along with the hope that came with the possibility of Crow 1 being found, there was the distinct feeling of happiness at the thought of Kamijou coming with her that she could not deny.

---

Shokuhou Misaki felt herself sigh as the door closed and the Black Crows finally left the room to work out the details of how they were going to have both Shokuhou and Kamijou Touma move with them…as well as other people who surely wanted to come.

But as she leaned against the bookshelf, the glares sent her way by Index, Tatsugami Otohime and the doll (?) Othinus were obvious. Only Kamijou looked at her with an endless gratitude but she could not simply smile back at that. Although she knew in her heart she had made the right decision, something else prevented her from replying to the thanks Kamijou clearly wanted to give.

"…Care to explain, Long Hair?"

The hostility within Index's voice was clear and the glare in Otohime's and Othinus's eyes was clear too. Kamijou turned to face her, hands held up, but Shokuhou grabbed him and prevented him from speaking.

"No, it's fine, Kamijou-san. Their question…it's one that needs to be answered."

Kamijou seemed to want to speak but did not, sitting back down and leaving things to Shokuhou. She turned to the others with a serious gaze of her own.

"I did what I did not because I wanted to. But because if I did not do it, it would have far reaching consequences. And that is something I say from experience." Shokuhou's voice was calm and collected but held a fragment of both regret and sadness. Both were ignored when it came to the reply.

"Far reaching consequences!? What happens if Touma gets shot because of you getting him involved?" yelled Index with anger in her voice. "What about the short reaching consequences, Long Hair?"

"Silver Sister," replied Shokuhou. "Let's look at how the conversation turned out previously, shall we? The group that came here explained their situation. Now, not only did they mention the presence of MINUS and Itsuwa-san in their little 'adventure', but the core of their group was clearly in no condition ability for strenuous activity. And yet, they were going to enter a battlefield of which they were currently not equipped to deal with. After shooting Kamijou-san down given he was not equipped to help them, they would have gone back to look for their comrade."

"…So what?" asked Otohime.

Shokuhou smiled, a light humour in her expression but her words holding none of that.

"Do you really think that would have been enough to stop Kamijou-san from chasing after them?"

Nothing was said, only wide eyes coming from Index, Otohime and Othinus, all of who stared at Kamijou knowingly. He said nothing, turning his gaze downwards, as if in part shame but Shokuhou reached out and grabbed his right hand.

"No, Kamijou-san. That part of you, while frustrating, is nothing to have shame ability about. But at the same time, you would have chased after them even with or without their permission. The only difference would have been if you had known what was going on or not. And for that difference alone, there are far reaching consequences."

"How…so?" asked Otohime. Again, Shokuhou's smile betrayed what she was really feeling, a fraction of sadness coming across in it.

"Wasn't it only recently that Kamijou-san entered a conflict without knowing what was really going on? Wasn't it only recently that Kamijou-san charged into a conflict that had nothing to do with him and knew nothing about, only for him to narrowly avoid far reaching consequences? Wasn't it only recently that we all thought his ignorance would be satisfied with results?" Shokuhou turned and looked at Kamijou who stared at her with muted surprise. "The difference between knowing and not knowing what is going on is a large one. The incident with Kongou Mitsuko taught us that."

There were muffled gasps from the girls, Kamijou not even bothering to react to the words said. Instead he, like everyone else, stared down at his left arm which had been lost in the incident with Kongou.

Just like Shokuhou had said, he had entered that incident knowing nothing. Like always, he had naively thrown himself into an incident without any knowledge of what was going on and had paid the price for it. While that in itself was not unusual for Kamijou, the fact he had sustained such a great injury was. The difference between knowing what was going on or not was huge and moving with people who knew what was going on had a great advantage in knowing the threat, the consequences and what would happen in the future.

But if you did not, as Kamijou had during the incident with Kongou, moving with knowing nothing and assuming the best, the far reaching consequences were immense.

And Kamijou Touma was Kamijou Touma.

Here, people had entered his home and judging just from the colour red sprayed around the room, they were in desperate times and had needed to resort to desperate measures in visiting Kamijou's room. And after telling him what he needed to know, they had been prepared to leave.

Knowing him, how could he merely ignore that? Forget about it being about MINUS and his need to correct his mistake there. Forget it involving Itsuwa and relating to the Magic side to some extent too. This was merely the story of someone needing help visiting the one place they were certain to get it.

After seeing people in pain and in desperate need of help, whether Kamijou knew anything about what was going on or not, was he merely going to sit there and let them go on their way?

Kamijou had said it himself: he offered to go along with them and make it easier for them as he was probably going to get involved anyway. For that alone, he had already factored within his mind one thing: he was going to take part in this conflict if for nothing else but to protect the world around the person who had been hurt during this incident.

"Kamijou-san…you were already going to move into the battle with them anyway, weren't you?" asked Shokuhou. Kamijou stared at her for a single moment before nodding his head.

"…This relates to MINUS. Which means I can't – "

"I'm not interested in the reasoning, Kamijou-san. Because no matter what it is, you'll still have charged in without a reason. But when you were rejected, the first thing you would have done after shaking free of the words they gave you would have been to chase after them. Isn't that right?"

"…I can't just leave them."

Shokuhou smiled that.

Merely because of how untrue it was.

He could have jut lefthave just left the issue alone.

He could have just silently watched on from the sidelines.

He could have left them to their own devices and continued with his own normal life.

But he did not.

Merely because he could not stand the sight of someone needing help and not even trying to reach out to them and grabbing their hand when they needed it the most.

That was just who he was.

And it was for that part of him that Shokuhou Misaki had truly fallen in love.

"Whatever the case, if you had been rejected and run off with them, it would be like Kongou-san's incident all over again: you charging in without any idea what was going on. But since you were going to get involved anyway…all I had to do was make sure you were moving with the people who knew what was going on. Thus reducing the chance of something like Kongou-san's incident happening again."

Shokuhou felt a shiver up her spine, a memory of blood and a memory she never wanted to recall coming up to the surface to torment her.

"…And I'm not having something like what happened with Kongou-san's incident happen again. It might do nothing given you're already entering this incident, but if going with the people who know what is going on lowers the chance of what happened during Kongou-san's incident by even 1%, then I am going to take it. I'm not going to see what I saw last time. Never again. …Never again."

Shokuhou felt her eyes drift towards that left arm, recalling the sight of blood and its amputation when she had finally found him in the climax of what happened with Kongou. The others did the same, Index having the worst of it and she turned her gaze away, holding a hand to her mouth. Her perfect memory was seeming to be more of a curse for her right now.

"That's why I did what I did. Even if I don't want you to be a part of this, Kamijou-san, I know how you are. And if there is no way for you to stop being who you are, then I am going to minimise the chance of you being hurt because of it. So, if moving with those who know what is going on achieves that and prevents a repeat of the Kongou-san incident where you moved without understanding what was happening, then I am going to grab at that with every ability I have."

Shokuhou was blunt, silence coming over the room as everyone else took in the information. The weight of her words was perhaps greater than anything because of how everyone there had seen how badly Kamijou's left arm had been mangled during Kongou's incident.

No one said anything for a small while, before it was Index who broke that silence.

"…I guess then, I have to thank you, Long Hair. I didn't…didn't think about what would happen if those people left and Touma chased after them. For thinking about Touma and wanting to make sure he is hurt the least…thank you. And sorry for thinking you had something else planned."

How hard was it for Index to say those words? Given how she and Shokuhou did not exactly see eye to eye, it was perhaps difficult for those words to be said, but at the same time, incredibly easy.

After all, even if the two of them had their differences and did not see eye to eye, there was surely one thing they could always agree on.

And that was ensuring the safety and happiness of one Kamijou Touma.

There was only honesty in the words Index said, words she would not have said if it was not about Kamijou being saved. Shokuhou blinked once in shock. She coughed to recover herself and turned her head to the side, nodding.

"W-Well, it's only natural. Perhaps because of my ability, I'm a bit more concerned with seeing the bigger picture behind everything is all. There's no need for thanks."

"Sure there is!" Otohime yelled out, basically throwing herself forward towards Shokuhou and clasping her hands around that of the Level 5's. "Even if Onii-chan can't fix his hero problem – "

"I'm right here you know."

"Seeing you think about him above anything else means a lot. Not only for Index, but for me as well! So, thank you, Shokuhou-san!"

Shokuhou felt a light colour rise to her cheeks as Otohime so clearly implied she was thinking about Kamijou, which she had been when she had made the request to ensure a repeat of Kongou's incident was prevented. She turned her gaze to the boy in question, seeing his gaze on her, his eyes softly narrowing as he stared at her and smiled.

"…You're like a caring older sister character. What would I do without you? Where have you been all my life while I've been getting into all this misfortune?"

It was nothing more than a passing comment but that alone made Shokuhou's light blush turn into a fierce red. She opened her mouth to say something but only managed to hang her head, twisting a honey blonde lock and managing to nod despite everything she wanted to say.

It was frustrating to say the least.

She had vowed to take things slow to ensure she and Kamijou built up their relationship from scratch.

But with comments like those that tugged at her heartstrings so easily, she was finding it incredibly hard to stop herself from just embracing him then and there.

Shokuhou turned her head up to say something, but never managing to. The door to the apartment opened, Shokuhou forcing herself to try and hide the blush rising to her cheeks.

Shutaura Sequenzia hobbled in slowly given her wound and waved off any assistance she was offered. She stared at the people in the room, took a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

"…I assume everyone else here also wants to come along with those two?"

"Yes!"

"Of course."

Otohime and Index answered without hesitation and at the same time, the latter picking up Othinus and holding her close to her chest. Shutaura twitched slightly and sighed, nodding to herself all the same and speaking.

"We've decided what is going to happen and how we are going to organise getting everyone to the facility in District 14. It's almost the middle of the night but that doesn't mean Anti-Skill isn't patrolling around to stop kids past their curfew and send them home. Not only that, but it is suspicious if we all move together as a massive group."

"…What do we do then?"

"Simple," replied Shutaura to Kamijou's question. "We move in groups of two. Crow 14 and 22 have already been sent to the hospital by two other Crows and they will re-join us shortly. Otherwise, everyone else is going to be paired up with a member of the Black Crows and make their way to District 14. We will all meet up there after taking different routes before reaching the facility. Hopefully, the collaboration with Anti-Skill in this case and given this incident has something to do with us will give us access to the scene."

Shokuhou scowled. While she had intended to go with Kamijou, there was nothing she could do about the decision made by the older girl and nothing she could do to change her mind either: Shutaura still had her remotes confiscated. With nothing to object with and no foot to stand on, the only conciliation she had was that she had possibly prevented a repeat of the Kongou incident.

"B-But I want to move with Onii-chan!" said Otohime with a whine, something Shutaura replied to with a glare.

"You follow my orders or you stay. Which is it going to be?"

The terse tone shut Otohime up who seemed to shrink in the face of authority. Shutaura nodded upon seeing that, pointing to Index.

"You are with Crow 7," Now to Otohime. "Crow 9," Now to Shokuhou "Crow 27. As for you," Shutaura said to Kamijou. "You're going with me. And we're leaving immediately. As in now."

"N-Now?! B-But what about my dorm!? And dinner?!"

"Orders. Or you stay."

Shutaura's icy words stabbed into Kamijou and he trembled in the face of authority but all the same, for the other girls, the bias in Shutaura's choice was fairly obvious to them. Even if they wanted to complain, they could not given the authority Shutaura had.

The only question to be asked at this time was also obvious.

…What type of miracle would he cause with that girl in the middle of the night and practically no people around to witness it!?

---

"And there is the target."

Hayashida Mari said those tense words, sweating bullets as she sat in the van and looked across the empty road at the building the target was located in. Using infrared, she was able to see through the walls at the specified level, seeing it lying down on the bed where it should have been given this time of night.

"…Are you sure about this?" A voice next to her, from Faith Townsend, made her frown. The girl's ahoge, swaying from side to side in her anticipation for what was going to happen, was tickling the side of her face. She swatted it away with a light smile but replied all the same.

"No. Not at all. But if we don't do this…let's just say Kamui is not going to accept more failures. The fact he was pushing us to do this in the middle of the night is proof enough of how he wants results. …We can't screw this up. No matter how much I want to stop his madness, the stalemate I have with him is like water tension: a small thing can break it. I can't be obvious in my attempts to sabotage what he is doing. This is…so different to what I had with MINUS."

"…Are you sure you should be telling me this?"

"You work for me, don't you?" Hayashida smiled slightly. "There's a reason I only asked for the two of us to be involved in completing this plan of mine. I need…I need to be honest occasionally. Otherwise I'm going to explode."

"Orion is the who works for you technically. I'm just here to have a good time!"

"Ha! That is true. I only hope that he is doing his job properly though…"

"Well…" Faith said with a finger under her chin. "His personality stinks like a landfill, he's no good at parties, he's weaker than a three year old and he dresses like an idiot – "

"Are these points supposed to improve my confidence in him?!"

"But he gets the job done. As long as you don't die on him, he'll do whatever he can to see things through and protect your life. You have my word on that, Brainiac."

It was rare to see Faith so absolutely serious but the weight of her words and the lack of smile on her face as she said them hammered them home.

A small silence filled the air, Hayashida watching their target and turning to face the machine next to her, frowning as she assessed the parts hastily put together using the remains found in numerous trash dumps. It was amazing how accurate the expression 'one man's trash is another man's treasure' was applicable here. The things you could create using spare parts people did not realise could be put together in just the right ways depending on how you did things was amazing.

She reached for her home-made device, tapping the machine slightly and feeling the warmth radiating from it, nodding once.

"We're almost ready." Hayashida told Faith, who nodded. "Getting things ready within such a short time is ridiculous…"

Hayashida's thoughts were never finished as a phone rang throughout the van, Hayashida reaching for her phone and fishing it out. She answered.

"Hello?"

"We're in position." The voice of the General came through, short and brief. The hint of excitement could be herd through it though and Hayashida turned to the person next to her, the mercenary's handler. Orion had warned of Faith's apparent adrenaline obsession and it was clear in the way her eyes sparkled in the face of the incoming crisis, especially given who they were facing and what they were about to do. It seemed that Hayashida was dealing with people who were too into this and a nervousness came through her.

"Hold. Wait another thirty minutes. Then strike. Use what force you think is necessary, but no killing."

"…That's not what Kamui said."

"It's what I said. Do you really want to go against the plan I've set up?" Hayashida asked, the silence on the other end disturbing her more than usual before the boy on the other end replied with a completely different topic.

"That guy we captured from the failed Plan A's. He escaped."

"What!? How the hell did that happen?"

"I was hoping you would tell me."

"Me? Y-You can't seriously think I had anything to do with that!? I've been here, planning this impossible task for the both of us! If you can explain to me how I broke out that man and also set up these attack plans for both of us, I'd be happy to hear it!"

"…"

"I thought so! Now, if you would be as so kind as to move on with the plan, get off my fucking back!"

"This better work."

"Then you better not screw up!"

Hayashida hung up forcibly but at the same time, felt the sweat on her body be more than just because of what she was about to do. She turned to face Faith, seeing that the girl had had an interest in her conversation, her eyes shining in the light of the back of the van.

"Oh? Looks like Orion did his job after all."

"…I didn't think he'd do it. It goes against what Kamui wanted."

"Like I said, Brainiac. He works for you. Not the other fancy pants dude. But let's take things a bit serious, K? We have a job to do."

(I only wish you didn't look so excited when you said that.)

Hayashida stared at the girl and grabbed the lanyard on her chest, staring at the machine in front of her and feeling the sensation of the lanyard be like one where she was being judged for her actions.

(…Am I doing the right thing? Does righting a wrong make up for the wrong I am about to do? Can I really achieve forgiveness…after what I've done?)

She did not know.

But somehow, she felt as though the person the lanyard depicted did.

But he was so far off from an existence like her that Hayashida Mari had never felt so isolated before in the world she had found herself in.

---

The weaponisation of antimatter.

The concept itself seemed like some sort of science fiction but in all seriousness, that was the threat facing Academy City right now. Even the idea itself was ridiculous but to Misaka Mikoto, a human Railgun, she realised how hypocritical that sounded.

The cold air of the night brushed up against her face and the coffee she held in her hands was the only source of warmth. She brought her jacket closer towards her and drank another sip, still finding the liquid too warm for her tastes.

She had been unable to sleep, especially with everything happening to her, her friends and the City she lived in.

When had the world gone so crazy? She did not know but in the mere few hours of today, she had not only heard about the weaponisation of the most dangerous and volatile substance in the world but also that the future of her friend, Uiharu Kazari, in Judgment was going to be determined tomorrow.

While that girl had purposely lied during the battles of Academy City against MINUS, which had led her to lose her Judgment status temporarily, the future for that girl in the aftermath was a black box no one wanted to touch. She had been told, when she had sacrificed her position for Shirai Kuroko, that if was she lying about the things she had been falsely accused of, the consequences of such would be severe.

And now she was being faced with the hearing that would determine her future in Judgment, it was now time for her to face the consequences of her actions. The nervousness Mikoto was feeling she knew Uiharu was feeling as well. Out of sympathy and if only to calm her down for the hearing tomorrow, Saten Ruiko has agreed to stay over at her place to calm the Level 1 girl.

Not only that, but the issues within Academy City itself did not seem to be dying down whatsoever. Only today, there had been a bombing in District 7 and in District 14 as well and as such, the alert level was as high as ever for the peacekeeping forces of Academy City.

Mikoto herself was not in the Tokiwadai dorm despite the late hour. The street and park bench she was sitting at was close to Judgment's 177th branch where Shirai and Konori Mii worked. It had been nothing more than coincidence that Mikoto had been beside Shirai when she had been told she was going to help the investigation into the bombing in District 7.

Normally, that would have had nothing to do with Mikoto and she would have separated herself from Shirai. But one name had made her stay and help, one she recognised.

The name of the only suspect in the bombing; Orion Phoenix.

He had managed to escape and had yet to be found. A warrant for his arrest had been issued as had a wanted situation for him and a call for the community to help but nothing as of late had appeared. But even so, the things Orion had been in during the last few days had given Mikoto a pressure and made her insist on joining Shirai in her investigation as civilian assistance.

He was involved in what was happening in District 7 to some extent. Whether he had already given his services of the unsavoury sort given his role in the bombing Mikoto did not know but his crimes could not so easily be ignored. Even if the worst of the damage in the bombing in District 7 was broken bones and largish wounds, his role and his presence sent a wave of nausea flowing through her.

She stared down at her coffee and for an instant, the colour changed from black to a flowing red, much like the endless red that had stained the walls during the massacre she had been witness to during Kongou Mitsuko's incident.

And in that incident, the sight of a left arm in its mangled and irreparable state.

Mikoto closed her eyes, tightening her grip on the can not only for its warmth but also to remind herself the wound that idiot had received was not as irreparable as it had seemed: he had gotten his left arm back all fine so there was nothing else to worry about. Still, he had lost that arm in a conflict that had nothing to do with him.

But for Mikoto, the flames of that conflict had not yet died.

There was so much not answered for her in the aftermath.

Why had the three fake fiancés to Kongou Mitsuko been in Academy City in the first place? What had they been doing that necessitated them to die? The papers strewn around the room where one of them had died in District 10 Mikoto cursed herself for not looking into properly. There was something there, something brewing in the darkness as she sat there and the idea that Orion was involved in it somehow was something she could not shake. For that reason alone, the idea she could let him continue to walk around Academy City was one she was against fully and had been the reason why she had wanted to help Shirai in the first place.

But what was brewing?

Something that idiot had told her a few days ago rose to the forefront of her mind, something he had told her in the aftermath of the incident involving the #4. That was there was a group of 'anti-espers' called Harmonia's Cradle roaming around Academy City, engaging in an underground war with the remnants of MINUS.

Did the darkness surrounding Academy City right now have something to do with that? Because if it did…

To what extent was that idiot already waist deep in it?

Mikoto looked up, tapping her fingers along the side of the can and shaking her head. She took another long swig of the coffee and downed it one go, looking for a bin to chuck her can into. No matter what she thought, she was only with Judgment and helping them out into the late hours of the night for civilian assistance purposes so being away from them for too long was not going to exactly seem like she was doing her job. Besides, pondering things was not going to get them solved either.

She spotted a bin, walking carelessly to it and rubbing her eyes.

"Too much is happening lately. …I guess that's Academy City for you."

Mikoto chucked the can lazily and used magnetism to let it glide through the air and land perfectly in the bin, turning and beginning to head back towards the Judgment office where she was heading.

Before she paused.

(Wait. Wasn't that…?)

Mikoto turned back, frowning as she spotted something familiar in the darkness.

She recognised that honey blonde hair anywhere.

"Shokuhou?"

---

"Ugh?!"

"See, I told you! How does you being in this state help in any way?"

Kamijou Touma said that frustrated as he grabbed the girl who had stumbled next to him. He held her by the shoulders, grabbing her arm and lifting it over his shoulder, staring at a nearby bench and walking over to it with the girl leaning on him for support. A pushing hand on his chest held a weak amount of force and the voice behind it was irritated and forceful.

"D-Don't be ridiculous. This is something I'm going to handle by myself and – "

"Say that without stuttering or looking on the verge of collapsing and I'll believe you."

Shutaura Sequenzia opened her mouth to say something but winced, clutching her chest in pain and being forced to go along with Kamijou who walked to the bench. He sat her down gently, sitting down next to her and looking where they were supposed to be heading with some frustration.

"District 14 is on the other side of the City too. At this rate, we're going to be the last people to arrive out of our entire group." Kamijou remarked, staring at the girl next to him who groaned, leaning back and wincing as she did do so. The chill reached Kamijou given he was without a jacket, having wrapped up the baby carved with the phi symbol in it and having given it to Officer Tsutsumi Yukiji. The turn for the weather made him concerned for the girl next to him given what she was wearing.

"Are you going to be OK in nothing but that bodysuit?"

"It's…meant to regulate and pass our body heat back towards us based on the external temperature. More often than not, it's actually too wa – Ufhghgh!?" Shutaura gasped in pain, leaning forward and grabbing her chest. Sweat came from her forehead as she leaned forward, the girl gasping in pained breaths. Kamijou went wide eyed, reaching over to her and holding her shoulders.

"Shit…it even hurts to breath. That bastard who shot me is going to get something coming to him…" Shutaura panted out, Kamijou making a small smile at her as she spoke.

"Not from you in this state. Rest here for a bit and catch your breath. Do you want to call one of your teammates and inform them we're taking a break?" Kamijou looked Shutaura up and down but did not see any sign of a phone on her, the girl by his side grinning slightly. She reached back behind her for a small bag there, attached to her uniform and reached for something on the upper side.

She reached into it and brought out a small smartphone, Kamijou staring at it with surprise before staring at the bag Shutaura had brought it out of.

"Brings back memories?" Shutaura found herself asking.

"…Yeah. Although I do seem to recall that nothing good for me came out of that bag on your back."

Shutaura smiled slightly and put the smartphone on the bench between the two of them, Kamijou looking at the girl next to him with that same small smile before it slowly turned into a frown.

"You should be in a hospital. Not battling MINUS."

"And you should not even be accompanying me on this problem that has nothing…to do with you. Looks like we're both guilty of something here." Shutaura responded sharply, finding her tone was a bit fiercer than she would have liked. "…Sorry. …I'm not used to people questioning my authority like you are."

"Yeah, I figured that from how we met before, during the Endymion incident. Very much a hard headed leader. But I'm worried about you here, Shutaura. In your state, the last thing you should be thinking of is going into battle. You were shot! Charging forward now is only going to get you hurt. Or worse."

"…Not doing so though is only going to make Crow 1 be in the hands of MINUS for longer. Right now, in my position, I know which one I would prefer. As Crow Leader, the safety of my teammates is my responsibility. And today, I failed the one who has been with me the longest. For that alone, I can't simply put things to the side. I can't just think only of myself right now. There is more at stake here than just me."

Shutaura did not even bother to hide the conviction within her words, staring forward and speaking all the same. Kamijou stared at her, slightly surprised, before running a hand through his hair.

"For your teammates, huh?"

"No."

Shutaura responded almost immediately, pausing slightly before turning and facing Kamijou head on.

"My family."

Kamijou did not know what exactly the Black Crows meant to Shutaura but that did not give him the excuse to merely throw what she valued to the side and discard it as worthless. There was something there within the team Shutaura had that was for her eyes only and for that alone, she was willing to push through the pain for their sake. That told of how powerful the Black Crows were to her and Kamijou knew it was not his place to deny or judge that.

He was caught speechless at the strength of the words Shutaura said and the dedication behind those words. Seeing the dedication this woman had for her teammates, to the extent of calling them family, made something like pride rise within him for knowing the girl. He found himself nodding.

"There's not much I can do to convince you to visit the hospital then, is there?" He said with a sigh. Turning to Shutaura gave the answer, her level gaze and the way she stared at Kamijou indicating there was no way she was going to forsake the people precious to her when the one who was supposed to protect them had failed to do so.

There was a silence between them for an instant, before Kamijou turned to her, looking at her and her gradually improving state before saying the words he felt he needed to now they had a moment alone, where the pressure of the world had alleviated itself from them for just a moment.

"It's good to see you again, Shutaura. Although it could have been under better circumstances, it's good to see you doing well. …Well, as well as you can be right now."

Something caught within Shutaura's throat at those words. She spotted Kamijou staring at her with a smile on his face, the words being honest and true. And in the face of it, the emotions swirling within Shutaura only became more complex given what she knew about Kamijou and what he knew about her.

Relief at hearing those words and annoyance at how they had been said to her filled her heart. But above all, the endless happiness from hearing those words seemed so overpowering and strong she could not help but feel physical pain from the words directed at her.

No, those words meant more to her given they were coming from this boy, perhaps the only one who knew about her condition and who she really was. Despite the complexity of what she was feeling right now and despite the chaos surrounding her, Kamijou had still found it in his heart to say those words and to not reject her even after everything she was putting him through. The words he said held honesty and a genuine happiness at having seen Shutaura despite the time she had spent purposefully avoiding him for fear of what his reaction to her would be.

The happiness coursing through her seemed overpowering to her now and she had to physically lean back to make sure she was not overwhelmed by it. She struggled to find the words to say, the mix of emotions coming from both her own heart and Arisa's meaning that conflict prevented her from finding the right thing to say.

Despite being a soldier and knowing that hesitance on the battlefield was the difference between kill or be killed, Shutaura was hesitating to genuine words from a single boy. She stammered, unable to control what she was saying and turned away, feeling an uncertain feeling rushing through her chest and a heat in her face she could not exactly place.

But at the same time, while the pounding of her heart seemed uncontrollable and the warmth of her face uncomfortable, the mysterious sensations coming through to her were not exactly things she was averse to feeling.

Unsure of what to say, she stammered out the words, once again feeling the rush of her heart as she spoke but unsure why she was feeling what she was. No, these things she was feeling were coming from Arisa…even if Shutaura could not exactly place what was so powerful it was leaking into her.

"…L-Likewise." she finally managed. "Although to be honest, I did not think our paths would cross again. What with you being a student and the Black Crows being in a business that is not exactly suited for you, I felt our meeting during the Endymion incident was a fluke, never to happen again. Tonight was…"

"Misfortune?" offered Kamijou with a grin, something Shutaura responded to with a smile of her own.

"Something like that." she said, finding the warmth once more rising to her face as she found herself speaking despite the pain it took to speak. "Y-Yourself?"

"…The usual I guess."

"Does this count as…usual? What we're doing now?"

Kamijou smiled a bit at that, but there was something within it, a small sadness Shutaura could not ignore.

"You mentioned something about a mistake? With MINUS? What did you mean?" Shutaura asked, the silence between the two of them on the dimly lit bench being the only thing that came between them for a small moment before Kamijou answered.

"It's…a small problem I've been having. Nothing too serious though, mind you." Kamijou said with a small laugh, one Shutaura did not entirely believe. Although she knew it was none of her business, a small feeling within her heart told her she could not just ignore it, but she pushed it aside.

"W-Well, I hope you can find it solved through one means or another."

Shutaura felt herself physically wincing at those words. Here she was, getting assistance from this boy and yet, when he presented her with his own problems, she coldly pushed him to the side? She felt slightly sick for doing that but she had not come this far by grabbing every single problem in front of her and solving them: as a soldier, she knew she had to choose her battles and the one she had chosen was the one that involved Crow 1.

As cruel as it might be to consider, the issues Kamijou had with MINUS were not a consideration she could just take on board. Like the saying said, 'The man who chases two rabbits, catches neither', or in this case, the woman. Attempting to tackle two problems at the same time would result in neither solved and when there was a life on the line here, that was not a proposition Shutaura could accept.

Kamijou though did what Shutaura had never expected.

"Thanks. That means a lot to me."

She stared at him, stunned. Despite blowing him off…he was thanking her for words which were fundamentally cheap? Despite him helping her with her issue, the way Kamijou spoke felt as though he had already accepted the fact he was going to get no help from anyone on the issue he was facing with MINUS, a fact that sent something painful racing through Shutaura's heart.

The hand he had reached out for her was one he did not think would be reached out to him in turn.

The realisation she had on the mental state of Kamijou when it came to his own issues despite helping Shutaura with hers made her heart sting. But given she was the one who had coldly turned him aside, there was nothing she could do to unsay her words. Shame filled her given how Kamijou was so giving and yet he had forsaken himself to an existence that could not take. She turned her gaze away from him slightly.

…Was this the nature of the boy who had helped Meigo Arisa and stopped Shutaura Sequenzia? A boy who, despite helping so many people, was in the depths of his own darkness he did not think anyone else would help him out of?

Shutaura felt herself reaching for Kamijou's hand as she sat next to him but stopped herself. What would she say in the first place when she had brushed him off? She pulled back her hand, suddenly feeling as though the words she had spoken before she never should have at all.

"But," Kamijou said, not noticing the movement of Shutaura's hand. "Are you doing OK?"

"I'm fine. The Black Crows isn't an easy thing to manage, especially with everything happening but – "

"That's not what I mean."

Kamijou spoke once again, Shutaura frowning and turning to face him. Kamijou clearly thought the words he had spoken were poor ones and chose better ones.

"You both. How are you doing?"

Shutaura felt her breath stop, staring at Kamijou.

"During the Endymion incident, you and Arisa… You sort of joined? I don't really understand what happened and I'm not going to pretend I do. But Meigo Arisa was still a person, a girl with her own life and personality. And I know for a fact she is still here, in this world. I've heard her before and so has Index. She lives on. Through you." Kamijou turned fully to her. "I don't know if it means anything much to ask or it this is a weird question…but how are you both?"

Shutaura felt her mind go blank. She had never once been asked this before and she did not expect to be asked again given how no one else knew of her condition and how she was living two lives at the same time. No, given she had never been asked this question, she could not think of a proper answer but more than anything, she felt more shame course through her.

Here she was, hurt and in pain and despite Kamijou mentioning something about his own problems, he had turned the topic of conversation all the way towards herself and her wellbeing. Given she had brushed him off so readily only gave her cause for some grief but she closed her eyes, trying to find the answer to the question she had never been asked.

Shutaura Sequenzia was fine. Injured, but fine.

Meigo Arisa was also fine. There were times she would control Shutaura and do her own thing but, at this time, she was probably fine as well.

But what about them both, together? Instead of them being separate existences, what about them both? How were they doing?

Shutaura felt herself unsure of how to answer and the conflict of emotions within her mind seemed to stop. The only thing she was left with was a sense of emptiness, one she filed with words that she put no thought into whatsoever.

Which only meant these words came directly from her heart.

"I…don't know."

That was the first thing Shutaura said but as she turned her head down, she found herself speaking once more.

"I just don't know. It's…It's confusing at times, you know? There are times when I know my thoughts are my own and other times when I know my thoughts are those of Arisa's, so they don't feel like my own despite me 'thinking' them. They are times when Arisa takes over completely and I am left with nothing but an awareness of what she has done and can do nothing about it. I was eating the other day, a burger with too much sauce. And while I was eating it, I was of two minds: one part of me liked it and the other did not. And I couldn't for the life of me figure out which part of me was thinking which. I think and feel things from two perspectives so for me it sometimes feels like a mess of emotions is coursing through me. How am I? I'm fine. How is Meigo Arisa? I imagine she is fine too. But the both of us? Together? I don't know. It's like, like I'm living two lives at the same time."

Shutaura put her hands together and waved an arbitrary hand in the air.

"Am I doing the right thing for Arisa? Is Arisa doing the right thing for me? Are we the same person? Or still different people? Arisa was cut from me, I know that and we fused back together during the Endymion. I regained my sense of music after that and there have been times when others have told me I changed after it. Physically I did at least."

Shutaura glanced down at her larger breasts given to her as a result of the fusion with Arisa.

"So what part of that is me? Is Arisa bleeding into me? Or am I bleeding into Arisa? Who am I? I don't have multiple personality disorder…but it feels like I do. There are parts of me that are me. But parts of me that are Arisa. What happens to me if I die? If I had died from the wound Orion had given me, would Arisa have taken over? Or would she die and I live my own life in my own way without her thoughts in my head? I just…don't know. I don't know who I am anymore. I'm fine. Arisa's fine. But the both of us? It feels like… It feels like…"

"You're two puzzle pieces forced to fit together and tearing yourselves apart trying to see how you can possibly fit."

Shutaura's eyes went wide as she heard the comment, slowly turning her head towards Kamijou.

"Something like that?"

He offered with a smile but the only thing that Shutaura could do was weakly nod at the words and feel a stunned shock echo through her body.

No…it wasn't just like that.

It was exactly like that.

Shutaura Sequenzia and Meigo Arisa. Two beings taken from the same puzzle, Shutaura, but being forced to fit together and compromise despite feeling as though they did not match. Shutaura had never been able to figure out how to phrase it before but Kamijou's words resounded within her and touched her on an emotional level, as if he completely understood the struggle she was going through.

Yes…almost as if he knew exactly the pains she was facing.

His sympathies and words did not feel as though they were coming from another person who was listening to her struggles and giving advice even though they could not relate. No, it felt more like the advice and the things he was saying were because he was feeling the exact same struggle.

"You're…the same…as me?"

"A bit different. …But yeah. You could say that."

"H-How? What happened to you?"

Kamijou opened his mouth, realising that his explanation was something he didn't just tell anyone. No, in fact, he had never told anyone who didn't already know about his own condition.

His memory destruction on July 28th.

And the fact that the previous Kamijou Touma still lived on in his heart.

For Kamijou, just like Shutaura, there were times when it was confusing. There were times that Kamijou was fearful of his past and where he was scared about being able to meet it properly. There were times where he did things and he was of literally two minds about it, the thoughts of the dead Kamijou bleeding through into the current. There were also times where they agreed of numerous points, but it was tough to decide which part of the agreement was the current Kamijou's and the past Kamijou's. Like two puzzle pieces being forced together, Kamijou himself struggling to figure out how exactly to strike the balance…and what to do about the life that was not just his own, but also belonged to his previous self.

The current Kamijou Touma was never supposed to exist. But through circumstances, they had been joined and had been put together in this way, with the current and the past Kamijou sharing many things. However, even amongst that, it was hard to determine who was thinking what.

Although the problem was the same, Kamijou was having a few different issues with it to Shutaura whose case was slightly different.

For example…

He had been asked a couple of days ago what he felt about the concept of romance. And while his misfortune and how it would push people away from him was one thing, his memory issue was also another.

If the current Kamijou was not supposed to exist, how much could he continue to take from the past Kamijou? They had settled their differences, but still, in the back of Kamijou's mind, there was a nagging feeling. The things Kamijou had now, hadn't he taken them from his past self?

His dorm room, his school life, his friends, Index, the life he had now; all of them were things he had taken. So, could he continue to take and take from someone who was now dead for all eternity and think nothing of it?

For example, could he so easily take a romance that was given to Kamijou only because he had stolen it from his past self? Wasn't that the greatest insult to the person who had sacrificed himself to give Kamijou what he had now? Could he so easily take something given to him because he had stolen someone else's life?

Even though it might not be an issue Shutaura was facing, the problem Kamijou was having with his own two mindset conflict was taken from the same cloth.

He could honestly say he understood Shutaura Sequenzia and the problems she was having, even if she felt she was alone in the world by being the only person with them. The gaze she was looking at him with was such that looked as though she was lost, having finally found a light and was trying with everything she had to grasp onto it and hold it tight without ever letting go.

Kamijou moved his own hand to Shutaura's next to his and grasped it lightly. From that one action alone, a wave of conflicting emotions flowed within Shutaura; happiness, nervousness, annoyance and anxiety but she did not know what was hers and what was Arisa's.

It didn't matter to Kamijou though who stared into her eyes and spoke with a level gaze.

"What happened to me…doesn't really matter. The only thing I want you to know, Shutaura, as well as Arisa, is that you are not alone. I don't know if I have the answers to the conflict you are facing, but you aren't alone in the things you are feeling. I just think you should know that."

Kamijou felt some shame in that he could not find it in himself to reveal to Shutaura (or was it Arisa?) about his memory loss when Arisa had done it to him so readily when she had stayed with him and had been worried about her own problems.

Shutaura stared at the boy, feeling the conflicted emotions within her stop conflicting and agree on one thing that Arisa herself had already figured out long before.

And that was this boy, Kamijou Touma, seemed so safe and secure that Shutaura was sure that around him, she would not be burdened with the problems she was currently facing. Never in the face of someone had she felt so safe before in her life and part of her seriously thought the warmth in his touch was going to surround her and take her away.

She opened her mouth, finding a warmth was spreading to her cheeks, but she did not even bother focusing on that, focusing on the words she had to say next.

"I'm…not alone?"

"Of course you're not. There's me, your family and even Index as well. While the problems connecting you and Arisa are ones you might think are yours alone, there are surely people out there that can help you solve them."

"I'm…I'm two people. I just don't know who I am anymore. Am I both? Put forcibly together? Or neither? Am I turning into something else? I just…don't know."

"Well, we can figure that out together. If you want of course."

He…would do that?

Shutaura felt something tug inside her, the doubt she had in the back of her mind making her look at Kamijou as he held her hand.

"You…would d – "

Her voice was interrupted by a ringing coming from between them both. They both jumped, Kamijou instantly letting go of Shutaura's hands and looking around in a panic for the source of the sound and finding it. Shutaura did as well and (with the remnants of warmth on her cheeks and hands) grabbed the ringing phone and pushed it up to ear, a flash of irritation coming through her.

But was that irritation from Shutaura or Arisa?

She did not know.

"Hello?"

"Captain," The voice of Crow 2 came through the phone, something she had not expected to hear. Crow 2 had managed to avoid most of the chaos around them and the City and was helping the investigation into trying to figure out where Orion Phoenix was located although through a different method than Shutaura and the others; using his mobile weapon and the mobility it provided. "I think you might want to hear this."

"What is it?"

"My mobile weapon just got information that Crow 1's bodysuit tracking device was reactivated only seconds ago. And it appears to be moving."

"What!?"

Shutaura yelled and stood up, gasping in pain. She clutched her chest and fell back down, her vision swimming from the pain and gritting her teeth. She was glad the area around her was empty in the middle of the night as the pain she was showing seemed like a weakness anyone might want to exploit.

Wanting to rip open the top half of her skin-tight bodysuit to assess the wound causing her so much pain, she decided against it because of the pride she had and because she was next to a high school boy with an active imagination (probably). Forcing herself to steady herself, she held herself carefully and breathed heavily.

"Where?"

"District 7. I'm sending the co-ordinates to your smartphone now."

A 'ping' sound on her phone made Shutaura glance at her phone, putting it on speaker and grimace as she saw a dot appear on a map of District 7. The dot, just as Crow 2 had said, was moving. She did not recognise the street names with her hazy mind but even as she focused, she found herself not recognising them anyway.

However, the words she wanted to say came through to her from an unexpected source.

"…That's not far from here."

Kamijou said with confidence in his voice, Shutaura staring at him with surprise as he looked at the phone. She quickly managed to gather her thoughts together and spoke once more, although through pain.

"Crow 2. Can you bring up a map of all other Crows in Academy City based on their tracking in the suits? Include mine too."

"Roger."

There was a small moment of pause and the phone suddenly zoomed out, displaying a satellite image of Academy City with 32 dots all across the City, spread out and crossing numerous Districts…but only one in District 7 where Crow 1 was also.

"We're closest." Kamijou said.

"Could be a trap. Bait to lure me out. They were after me in the first place and the sudden activation of the tracking device, which MINUS managed to disarm, seems suspicious. They could have attached the bodysuit to a slow moving ground drone to lure me out."

"…But you realise what that means Captain?"

"Yeah." Shutaura grinned despite the pain at Crow 2's words. "I do."

"What does it mean?" Kamijou asked with a frown, Shutaura turning to him.

"It means that if there is a trap, then there is someone there to spring it. Someone…"

"From MINUS…!" Kamijou's went wide eyed, staring at the slow moving dot and looking up into the street in front of him, as if judging where to go and how to get there merely from the landmarks. "And if we can get the upper hand on them, then - !"

"Checkmate. Simply asking Mental Out to search for the residual memories within their clothes or their own memories will tell us exactly where they once were. They've given the bait to lure me out, but at the same time, they've fully exposed themselves to us and basically given us their location." Shutaura said, her eyes gleaming. She turned to the phone. "Crow 2."

"…Captain, I know what you are going to say but – "

"Crow 1 placed his life on the line to keep me safe."

"As would I."

"So how can I just let you do that and not think to do the same? This isn't about Crow 1 being a teammate. This is about family. And if there is going to be any chance of luring out the bastards you kidnapped my family, I'm going to take it. Going out into that trap is going to directly give us the location Crow 1 was taken, whether it be through the residual memoires in the bodysuit Mental Out can give us or from the memories from the person who is going to spring the trap. How can I ignore this opportunity? This is for Crow 1. Remember that."

There was silence on the other end for a single moment before there came a response.

"Understood Captain. …For safety's sake, I shall inform the others you are engaging the enemy. I imagine others will be hurrying to your location to get to you with their mobile weapons and assist if necessary." The response given by Crow 2 and how he so perfectly responded to something he might not have agreed with showed how well the Black Crows were trained as soldiers. Shutaura lightly smiled.

"That's perfect. In fact, we might need it, to get whatever we get in this to Mental Out so she can read the memories of it; whether people or person, and tell us where Crow 1 was hidden so we can strike against those who kidnapped him."

"…Are you armed?"

Kamijou looked surprised at the blunt question and more surprised to see Shutaura reach into the bag behind her and pull out a small handgun.

"Always."

There was a beep from the phone as Shutaura hung up, Kamijou staring at the handgun with surprise still. Shutaura caught his gaze and gave him a knowing smile.

"Do you think you'll need one?"

"You have another!? Since you're pulling them from behind you, it seriously feels like you're literally pulling them out of your ass!" Kamijou exclaimed completely on instinct, Shutaura going wide mouthed and red at the comment that had had no thought put into it at all.

"It's the bag that's compact is all! A-Are you saying my ass is fat!?"

"W-Well, no but – "

"You think my ass is fat, don't you?!"

"I'm not an expert on them so I can't say!" Kamijou said, red faced himself as Shutaura's expression looked borderline embarrassed and extremely enraged. He shook a hand in front of him while speaking and trying to get his thoughts back on track. "And besides…a gun isn't the type of power I'm looking for. It's won't let me save anyone. And even if I had one, knowing my misfortune, it's going to discharge and shoot me in the foot."

Shutaura stared at the boy with some surprise (and dying embarrassment) but figured it was not her place to say anything on the adequacy of a gun as a weapon or what you could do with it. She shrugged.

"Suit yourself. Are you ready to go?"

"I should ask you that." said Kamijou, leaning down and reaching his hands out to grab Shutaura and assist her getting up. "You're the one who's injured. Like your teammate – "

"Family."

Kamijou blinked once before smiling once and nodding.

"Like your family said, I'd rather you not go. But as I can't stop you, you'll need what help you can get."

"I don't need your help."

Shutaura said that rather forcibly, forcing herself to her feet and falling forward, catching herself on Kamijou, her expression pain filled and looking as though she was on the verge of collapsing just from the things pounding through her body. She gasped just from the contact with Kamijou and gripped him tight from the pain, Kamijou holding her tightly.

"See? You're not fine at all! You still need some rest so sit back down and – "

"No, Crow 1 is out there and the trap MINUS has set is one we can reverse on them using the power of Mental Out. I am not losing this chance!"

Shutaura yelled out, stepping back and pushing Kamijou away from her, her expression only escalating with the pain. She stepped forward and towards the location indicated on the smartphone in her hand, but she barely even reached one step.

As soon as she took that step forward, her entire body seized up, straightening suddenly…before slowly falling forward. The smartphone slid out of her limp hand and towards the ground, Kamijou going wide eyed: the overpowering pain of her moving had clearly been too much and she had lost all feeling in her body, losing consciousness…ready to collapse to the ground.

"Shutaura!"

Kamijou cried out, grabbing the girl by the hand, trapping the smartphone within it and preventing it from falling before tugging the girl closer towards him. She fell backwards, Kamijou catching her and holding her close towards his body before slowly lowering her and turning her so she was facing him instead of their destination.

Her eyes were closed and her expression almost peaceful like, Kamijou reaching out and pressing his fingers against her neck. Her pulse was steady which was a good thing but what he was more concerned with was the opening of her wound. If she had pushed herself to the extent of losing consciousness, then the risk of reopening the wound was high, something he knew he could not afford.

His face went red as he realised what he would have to do to see whether the wound had reopened but shook it; this was no time to be embarrassed. So, without even bothering to reconsider the decision, he reached out and touched the centre of Shutaura's (more abundant than last time he remembered) chest.

The softness of the girl's breasts through the suit reached Kamijou but he forced himself to move past that embarrassment and pushed deeper, pushing the soft mounds out of the way of his hand and pressing on the centre of Shutaura's chest. The dryness of the bodysuit felt by his hand was reassuring but at the same time, was no proper confirmation given how the bandages may have absorbed the blood. Given the suit was black too, absorbing the colour red, he could not see if there was any blood given off either.

Sight was out then. Touch was too as there was risk of the bandage absorbing the blood meaning that even if he pressed his hand against her chest, if Shutaura had reopened her wound, he might not be able to feel any wetness.

Meaning the only ways he could test whether Shutaura had opened her wound were…

Sound? No, that was ridiculous.

Taste? No, Kamijou thought, shaking his head so fast it was a blur. He wasn't going to stick his tongue in between a girl's breasts so he could check whether she was bleeding! Besides, even if he did that, the bodysuit and bandage absorbing the blood from a reopening meant it would not work.

Meaning the only way left was…

Scent. For the iron scent of blood that would probably come through the bodysuit if he leaned close enough.

B-But for him to do that…

Kamijou's eyes went to the girl lying against him, trembling and looking around just in case. He gulped, eyeing the mounds in front of him and suddenly feeling as though he was on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

(…This is to check if she is bleeding. There is no other motivation behind this. No other. My mind is clear. I'm just going to sniff and see if I can smell any blood suggesting a reopened wound. Just a quick sniff…)

Kamijou Touma quickly escalated into being a massive pervert as he bent down his head and, with a red face, pressed his face against where he remembered Shutaura had her wound: right in the centre of her chest and thus, right in the centre of her breasts. The soft feeling from all around him resulted in various conflicted feelings coming through Kamijou but he braced himself, closing his eyes and taking a long sniff.

If it wasn't clear at this point, not only was Kamijou Touma an idiot but also an utter pervert who currently had a questionable life trophy of voluntarily thrusting his head into some breasts and take a sniff to see if a person needed first aid treatment or not.

(I only have eyes for dorm managers. Dorm managers. I am sniffing for blood. Not because I want to sniff for a girl's scent. …God, that's a nice smell. And these mounds are so soft, damn it! Is this what a girl is like!? N-No, focus, Kamijou Touma! Blood. That iron scent, I'm looking for that iron scent!)

Kamijou shook his head, pressing his face further into Shutaura's chest to pick out any possible scent of blood but getting nothing but a nice scent and an overwhelming soft feeling from all around him. No…if he was getting the scent of something else instead of blood which would have been more distinctive, then Shutaura clearly had not opened her wound. She had likely just passed out from the pain of moving with a wound that had not healed.

Meaning there was no more reason for Kamijou to have his head in between this girl's breasts and continue sniffing!

Yes, it was now time to part his spiky haired head from between the two breasts of Shutaura: the breasts that seemed to feel like soft marshmallows that covered his head and completely welcomed him further into their soft embrace that never seemed to want to let go. He had to part from the motherly sensation from all around him and the scent that seemed to linger in his nose for a moment longer to the extent that he would never forget it!

Yes, he had to part from this unforgettable experience of having his head in between a girl's breasts!

But before he could even do that, there was something else he had to deal with.

"WH-WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING, TOUMA-KUN?!"

"It'snotwhatitlookslikesopleasedon'thitmeordoanythingthatwouldotherwiseputfurtherstrainonthisKamijousan!"

Kamijou let loose a rapid speech, throwing myself back and swiftly entering a dogeza pose, especially terrified given Shutaura also had a gun on her. Trying his best to ensure she did nothing drastic and shot him, Kamijou prostrated himself like he had never done before, glancing up once and seeing Shutaura backing away with a red face and holding her breasts (which had definitely grown since the last time he had seen her).

Hitting his forehead against the ground, Kamijou bellowed at the top of his lungs.

"THERE WAS A REASON FOR WHAT I WAS DOING!"

"It better be a good one, Touma-kun!"

"Yes, sir! I was merely checking to see if the metallic scent of blood from your wound was leaking out of your suit to see if your wound had reopened with how far you had pushed yourself! So please don't shoot me! There were only pure intentions! Pure, I tell you!"

"…It's amazing how much that sounds like you. I-I understand. Please lift up your head."

"Are you sure you're not mad for me pushing my head into your breasts?"

"Yes. I-I'm not mad."

"…Not even a tiny bit?"

"No, not even a tiny bit, Touma-kun."

"Lies! I know what's coming next; I lift up my head and receive a boot to the head! Hahahahahaha, this Kamijou-san has learned enough from prior experience that – Wait. Touma…kun?"

Kamijou lifted his head, staring at the girl in front of him, Shutaura Sequenzia. There was no mistaking that, even as she shied away with her hands covering her breasts, it was definitely the same girl. But at the same time…there was something different about her.

The way she was holding herself, it seemed more girly than how Shutaura had given herself off and acted. Secondly, the look in her eyes had seemed to lose that analytical sharpness and had become softer, losing the edge that came with the authority Shutaura seemed to flaunt around so effortlessly. In the face of those two changes, the air of authority was completely gone.

But of the most importance change that Kamijou had to note, there was only one that stuck out to him.

The way Shutaura had called him.

No one called him 'Touma-kun'. Not Index, Othinus or any of the people in his mind who so frequently called his name as of late.

But there was one.

One person who had called him that.

A person who Shutaura Sequenzia had noted as someone who constantly traded places with her without Shutaura knowing what was going on.

A person who had disappeared…and was now standing in front of him.

Kamijou Touma looked up, eyes wide and was barely able to conceal his shock, managing to choke out the name on the tip of his tongue.

"…Arisa?"

Shutaura – no, it was not her inhibiting that body anymore. With the lack of authority surrounding her and the kinder look in her eyes, that was clear. Shutaura, having lost consciousness due to the pain of her wound had left the stage clear for another actor, someone who knew and had performed on that stage so brilliantly that no one had forgotten her.

Or maybe she had just wanted to come to the stage herself and forcibly taken control?

Meigo Arisa though, not even caring she was now not in the physical body she had been 'born' with, smiled at the boy who said her name.

"It's been a while, Touma-kun."

---

And there we have it!

What did you think?

This arc I think is the point where a lot of the different characters start to be involved in the same storyline instead of just Touma doing his thing. Even though that is the case, I'm still going to ensure I keep the focus exactly where it needs to be so don't worry about that in the future. But the extended cast should be obvious in the brief scenes of Hayashida and Mikoto in the middle when I usually put them at the end. However, I felt as though having the end scene be what it was felt perfect given the arc and its focus.

But I think the two points that really stuck out during this chapter have to be what Shokuhou said and did for Touma and the conversation between just Touma and Shutaura.

For the most part, the moment that explanations were made, I think it would have been obvious Touma was going to join in. But at the same time, I think it's good for all of you to note that Touma joining in is a result of his own choice instead of anyone else forcing him to join in a conflict that has nothing to do with him. While that in itself is a trait we have come to know and love about Touma, the difference between Touma charging in and interfering and charging in while not being a part of the group that is involved is really big and I think that was really demonstrated during the Kongou arc.

For Shokuhou and the characters here, the Kongou arc was a turning point. During that arc, especially the end, I focused on the idea that things were changing and given what was lost, that should have been obvious. Although Touma ended up recovering from his wound, the fact he suffered one of that magnitude is what makes it all the more serious and why the characters can't simply accept things as they are anymore. Touma was going to be involved and while that in itself is the normal thing, what is not normal is the question of what he is going to lose this time because of his involvement. It might be something or it might be nothing but the difference between the two really depends on whether Touma knows and moves with those who know what is going on or he does not, as seen in the Kongou arc. That arc really consisted a lot of Touma being pushed along by the current of things and in order to prevent that from happening again and thrusting himself at the wrong moment, Shokuhou chooses to get Touma involved in a way that minimises the chance of what happened during the Kongou arc from happening again.

The impact of last arc is going to have a lasting effect and it really shows in how the characters think about Touma in this regard. You'll notice how none of the characters openly objected to Touma joining into the conflict but instead objected to the WAY Shokuhou involved him. If anything, this should show how the characters have Touma's interests at heart but want to do the most they can to prevent the things from happening to him from happening in the worst of ways.

And secondly, the conversation between Shutaura and Touma. While I avoided most of the monologue of Touma and MINUS, given it is already known, I delved into the idea of a dissonance between two separate sides of the same coin: in this case, Shutaura and Arisa and the two past Toumas in the sense they don't know where one starts and the other begins. For Shutaura, this is definitely a really big thing given how her character is portrayed here as being two minds in one body who are entirely different and have their own feelings. The changes in her personality, although subtle, are an indicator of that change but the confusion that arises is because that change exists in the first place. Who is Shutaura? Who is Arisa? They are both the same person but given how they can be so different and are 'merging' together more than just physically, the types of questions of 'Who is who?' were the focus of Shutaura's internal struggles of identity.

But among that, and relating to her, was also the internal struggle of Touma and his own identity. He already knows who he is at this point: he is Kamijou Touma and no one else. But this Kamijou is someone who has achieved everything he has in life by taking from someone who is now dead. Even if he has resolved himself during the Lessar arc in that he wants to act in the best way possible for his former self, the idea he can take something as important as romance away from him is a thought that cuts deep. Questions of what the current Touma owes the previous are ones that are a result of the same, but different, dissonance between the two Toumas and are also a struggle of the identity. So, in this sense, the idea the two of them are not alone in their struggles with coming to terms with who they are. What they can take/give to the other member of 'themselves' is a big issue and as you can probably imagine gives way to possibly resolving the issues the both of them have meaning that Shutaura/Arisa can come to terms with who she is and Touma/Touma can ultimately move past one obstacle for why he doesn't seek romance.

Keep in mind though that it is only one!

The other parts were still important, but if there were bits out of here that I definitely think were the core of this chapter, it was those. I only hope you also enjoyed the rest of the chapter as much as those two bits and the rest of the story as well.

We're slowly moving into the realm of self-discovery now aren't we?!

I hope that you can look forward to the next chapter given who the character now appearing is!

But before we end the chapter, with the end of one story, it's time to reflect on another. Naturally, this will contain spoilers for GT 4 so skip this if you don't want my thoughts.

GT 4

This volume was definitely a strange one for me.

Did I enjoy it? Damn straight I did; there were so many things this volume did really well such as with the Sisters and Roberto being an absolute chad when it comes to being President, but there were also some bits I felt could have been done a bit better (even though I doubt I could have better anyway).

For a Magic side volume, I really liked how the series is now moving towards the combination of both Magic and Science together. Whereas in the past there was a clear divide between the two, I really liked how R&C Occultics and Citrinitas combined the two together with the use of the Logistic Hornets. I think the GT series is really driving the whole combination factor together that has been separate so far. I mean, we had Touma and St. Germain in GT 2 and now the Logistic Hornets along with Citrinitas this volume. I really liked how Kamachi is utilising both sides of the coin now.

Not only that, but I also really liked Othinus this volume (more than I usually do). With her knowledge of Magic, she was already a powerhouse when it comes to having that type of knowledge within her but her knowledge of the Science side of things this volume was almost extraordinary. While I didn't mind that so much, having Othinus take the spotlight and lead Touma on when he is also pretty capable as a Science side element was one of the bad things in my book. We've seen Touma physics his way out of problems before so having Othinus take the limelight sort of cheapened the things Touma has been through up until this point a bit I felt.

The power balance of the series is also something I really liked. Even though it was covered in the smaller parts of the volume, Accelerator's and Hamazura's roles have really increased than in the past. Part of me really enjoyed how Dion noted that Hamazura now has an indirect influence on the entire Anglican side while Accelerator has a direct influence on all of the Science side. The shift in power balance and control between all the protagonists now we've reached GT really stuck with me, even though it means Touma is inevitably stuck in the middle between a rock and a hard place!

Having the Sisters make their official appearance really shocked me though! I mean, to think we would actually have them make an appearance in this way! Part of me really thinks it's classic Kamachi to have these types of reveals with a 'bang' rather than someone discover something on the side, but damn it was exciting. That and shotgun man Roberto really were some of the highlights of the volume (even if the Sisters were taken out a bit too quicky for my liking). I also didn't mind Melzabeth and Helcalia as characters and I hope they make an appearance again – Melzabeth would fit right in in Academy City with her tech and it seems like the best place for her if she wants to achieve her dream as well but we'll have to see.

The way the Logistic Hornets went against the wishes of Citrinitas as well as the small role Kanzaki had were a bit much to swallow at times, but I accepted it when it happened without much complaint. Even with the small nitpickings, I really enjoyed what I was given and how everything played out in the story. With Anna already having been faced by Touma, I was worried where things would head towards as the big bad boss has already had an encounter with the hero, but with the ending, it seems there was more to it! And with Aleister making a surprise appearance, I can only say that the future of GT (while I thought it was short given that Anna had been battled early on) seems to be bright and something I look forward to!

There was a lot of amazing things this volume (Othinus and Touma having the illusion killer line together, Index actually having a strong supporting role even if it was in the background and Himegami finally having lines for once) and despite the bad, the good really stuck out to me once again.

But seriously, did Touma, a day after having his insides destroyed by St. Germain, get shot by a goddamn FIVE_Over and then also face a magician while he was at it? And Hamazura, after being shot once by an Anti-Skill weapon, had to be sent to the ICU? Hamazura needs to take some pointers from Touma…

Really awesome novel once again and hoping the next one isn't that long of a wait!

And as always,
Review if you please.

And I'll see you when I see you and I won't if I don't.

I never end up talking about the fanservice scenes until the end, but did I purposefully set up an intentional 'lucky pervert' event for Touma and he received basically no punishment for it? I think this settles for break from my Touma sadism right?!